Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Sikh groups block trains, want Dera chief arrested

New Delhi: Sikh protesters have blocked the Amritsar Shatabdi and the Sachkhand Express at the Amritsar Railway Station on Wednesday.


They demand the immediate arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh along with his bodyguard for allegedly killing a Sikh in Mumbai.


Protesters have stopped the main railway line near Walla village in Amritsar and Shivala which goes till Jalandhar. There is a gathering of about 150 people.


All trains coming to Punjab have been cancelled as protestors have blocked railroads.


The protests reportedly are likely to go on till 6 pm on Wednesday evening, but could be extended further.


\"We are trying our level best to control the situation.We are talking to the protesting leaders and hopefully jams will be removed soon,\" says SSP Amritsar.


The incident in Mulund had rekindled a strong anti-Dera sentiment across Mumbai, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu. Though the situation was largely peaceful, Sikhs staged large-scale demonstrations in several parts of the country on June 21.


Protesters had earlier warned that things will get out of control if no action is taken against the Dera chief.


Ever since a private Dera guard opened fire in Mumbai killing one person and leading to unrest across several states, Rahim has become persona non grata with governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi.


His presense in Karnataka also created unrest as Sikh groups there staged protests demanding his expulsion from the state. Baba Ram Rahim Singh then took a flight to Delhi on Monday morning to prevent trouble.


The Dera chief took a Monday morning flight to Delhi and was promptly put on a helicopter to Sirsa. Sources in the Delhi Police said the Dera chief, who faces a threat to his life, was put on a helicopter to prevent trouble in the national capital.


http://www.sikhpress.com

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